Bilingual children

Do children have special capacities to absorb more than one language?

This is a question many ask, and the answers to the question will make many intrigued. A lot of children are exposed to multi languages at a very young age- especially children of a native background. One of the reasons children have the ability to learn more than one language at a very young age is due to the need to start talking and the fascination. Another reason is; children have to learn from those who already know how to speak, therefore they listen and they copy, and as children grow and mature they remember more and more.

There is a 'critical period' (lasting roughly from birth until puberty) during which a child can easily acquire any language that he or she is regularly exposed to. Under this view, the structure of the brain changes at puberty, and after that it becomes harder to learn a new language. This means that it is much easier to learn a second language during childhood than as an adult. Apart from the above, children do tend to develop more native pronunciation when bilingualism begins before adolescence.

There are two types of childhood bilingualism. The first is simultaneous learning of two languages. It normally happens when the language used at home is different from language used in the community or school. The parents, or other family members might not speak the language of the school or the community, or the parents could speak two or more languages but have made a decision about which language they speak with the child.

The second type of childhood bilingualism is called sequential or successive bilingualism. This happens when a child has one established language before learning a second language, whether in preschool or later. Some children and adults, of course, usually learn a second language formally through school or language classes. I also got this information from Jean Stilwell's book Child Language.

Like adult bilinguals, bilingual children often use words from one language when speaking the other. (This is called code-switching.) But this doesn't mean they are confused about which language they are speaking.Knowing two or more languages truly gives kids so many advantages in life. Bilingual kids have the advantage of knowing two cultures, of being able to communicate with a wider variety of people, and of possible economic advantages in their future. Research has even shown advantages in thinking skills among bilingual individuals. But deciding to raise bilingual kids is a decision that should be carefully considered as it affects children for the rest of their live. This research was taken from a book called Child language that Jean Stilwell Peccei   wrote.

Deborah D.K. Ruuskanen, a professor of English linguistic is has most answers to bilingual children she is also a mother of three bilingual children. She gives advice on what she has experience of herself which helps out other parents and also she has the questions and answers to what most parents need.

I also found an interesting article by Nadine Lichtenberger who experienced being a mother of a bilingual child as she believed the gift of language was priceless .Also it was important for  her kids to communicate in English and accept different cultures. She wanted the children to be fluent and active.

 

Shahana Akthar